Ex-Ram savors homecoming

STOCKTON - Matt Lujan was overwhelming in his homecoming on Sunday night.

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By Dave Campbell

recordnet.com

By Dave Campbell

Posted Jul. 14, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Dave Campbell

Posted Jul. 14, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - Matt Lujan was overwhelming in his homecoming on Sunday night.

The 2007 St. Mary's graduate gave up a solo home run to Bobby Crocker of the Stockton Ports in the third inning Sunday night, and then the San Jose Giants left-hander bore down. Lujan retired the next 11 batters and 14 of the next 15 before yielding a leadoff double to Chad Oberacker in the eighth inning to lead San Jose to a 4-1 win in front of 2,035 fans at Stockton Ballpark.

Lujan went 71/3 innings and struck out a career-high 13 while giving up three hits and one walk, striking out the side after yielding his lone walk in the seventh.

"I was a little upset with myself because I should have stayed with what I was working with, which was my two-seam," Lujan said of the 3-0 pitch he threw to Crocker. "That kind of fueled my fire a little bit."

The Giants (14-10, 35-36) got two runs in the second off four two-out hits with two doubles bookending two singles. The rally was cut short on the second double when second baseman Daniel Robertson relayed a strike from center fielder Crocker to catcher Bruce Maxwell who got the tag on Trevor Brown. Brown was attempting to score from first on Ydwin Villegas' double.

Crocker displayed his prowess again in the fifth inning when he chased down a fly ball to deep center off the bat of Brandon Bednar, making a leap to snag it while running toward the fence at full speed. First baseman Matt Olson exhibited his jumping ability in the fifth inning when he leapt high to snag a line drive, robbing Elliott Blair (3 for 4, two doubles) of what would have been his third hit in three trips.

Andres Avila pitched the seventh and the eighth innings for the Ports (17-7, 37-34), retiring all six batters he faced and striking out two.

"Avila was in the zone and he worked low," Stockton manager Ryan Christenson said. "He got his slider going and had a good mix."

The fans got a special treat before the game when 4-year-old Zane Ryan threw out the opening pitch, but Zane needed a little help and his father, Gary Ryan, was more than happy to oblige.

Lujan was the last player to hit the clubhouse as he had a long line of well wishers to greet who had come to cheer him on.

"When I was walking off I was mad because I was coming out of the game," Lujan said. "But at the same time everyone was cheering.

"It takes you back and it makes you appreciate why you are here and how much support you have had the whole way.

"And then it is all here at one time and it is overwhelming. To have everyone here watching is just awesome."